Copyfitting

Calculating how much space a text will need when typeset, or how much copy will be needed to fill a space.

Oversewing

Sewing sections or groups of pages rather than sewing through all pages at one time to allow more flexibility in the spine.

Rounding

A process that gives curvature to a book's spine.

Super

An open weave gauze cloth with stiff sizing similar to cheesecloth. Super is sometimes applied to the spine of sewn or glued book blocks to add strength to the binding, especially on very heavy, thick volumes or books with large pages.

Spine

The bound edge of a book where the pages are sewn, glued, or otherwise fastened together. Spines are usually thin and flexible, allowing the book to be easily opened. Highly decorated books have spines that have been “built up” into hubs and ornamentation.

Perfect binding (also called adhesive binding)

A pamphlet binding process using only adhesive, usually a hot-melt, to secure the pages into a wrap-around cover. Telephone books and paperbacks are typical of Perfect binding.

Hinge

The thin areas of the case that fold back allowing the book to be opened and closed.

Headband

A fabric band, often decoratively colored, that is attached to the head and foot of the spine. Headbands add strength to these points of stress and also conceal any glue and thread that might have been visible after binding.

Half-bound

Hard bound books covered in paper or buckram, then reinforced with leather down the spine and on the corners. Most typical of courthouse record books.